I don't think anyone was asserting that redbook CD is better than a properly ripped WAV file. Computer audio has come a long way, but there are kinks yet to be worked out. Even so, my claim is much different and I don't see how it would be hotly contested. It is a fact that in my CD player the circuitry is different when playing a CD from it's own transport versus accepting the digital into the DAC section via S/PDIF.
I'm not sure where all of the anti-audiophile stuff is coming from, but if anyone genuininely believes that there are little or no sonic differences between the Transporter and a hi-end player at $5 grand and up, then I'll start taking bets. Gotta have serious hi-end speakers and supporting electronics and then prepare to have your mind blown. And I am dead serious. I did not believe that the Cary 306 SACD Pro as a DAC versus the analog outs of the Transporter would result in much of a difference, but I nearly fell out of my chair. I would not, under any circustance, have believed that I was listening to my own system (same speakers, pre/power amp, only swap DAC) had I not been sitting there myself. The bass alone was over the top convincing (deep/taught). Digital artifacts I didn't know were there...gone. Etc, etc. And again, the topic of this thread is "BEST top end players". While the Cary 306 is excellent and has earned quite a reputation (see reviews), it will be easily beaten by $15 grand and beyond leaders in digital. It's difficult to make a "value claim" for an $8,000 CD/SACD player, but taking that leap into "BEST" is very expensive. Why? Proprietary chip sets and more. Finally, the Transporter is awesome. Period. I have no clue why the Transporter must be heralded as the best DAC ever made at any price point when A) that's a ridiculous line of thinking and B) it was a remains a great unit at $1,000 and C) many here continue to enjoy it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ jh901's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=18175 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96407 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
